Skip to main content

Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds

to
291
2,100
1,394
1,887
995
824
756
674
409
395
329
234
195
151
140
136
103
101
87
87
77
76
65
62
50
41
39
35
27
20
16
10
9
9
8
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
76
60
40
26
22
Sort By
Arthur King 1970 Geometric Sculptural Ring In 18Kt Gold With 12.45 Cts Emerald
By Arthur King
Located in Miami, FL
with geometric patterns in solid yellow gold of 18 karats with polished finish. Emerald: Mounted in
Category

Vintage 1970s North American Modernist Cocktail Rings

Materials

Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

CLARISSA BRONFMAN Citrine Diamond Quartz Carmen Rosary MotherOfPearl Amber Set
By Clarissa Bronfman
Located in New York, NY
- 925 sterling silver diamond two tone bead - 925 sterling silver citrine beads - 14k gold plated
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Agate, Amber, Citrine, Diamond, Hematite, Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Blue Sapp...

Carved Ruby Diamond Opal Sea Shell Ring
By Lawrence Jeffrey
Located in Litchfield, CT
anchored by a three quarter carat white diamond. Inside the shell is a pearl, a little secret. Each piece
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Opal, Ruby, 18k Gold

Boucheron Door Knocker Earrings Diamond Platinum French Estate Jewelry
By Boucheron
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
recent pieces from Goutte de Ciel (Drop of Sky) collection, a white gold and diamond Goutte de Ciel
Category

Vintage 1950s French Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Erte Gold Silver Gem set Sophistication Necklace
By Erté
Located in Chicago, IL
Pearl. This Piece converts into a large Brooch and a necklace. Signed and Numbered. Over 18 Inch total
Category

Vintage 1980s American Drop Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver

Space Age Modernist 33 Carat Opal Diamond Necklace
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Beverly Hills lady. It was worn as a brooch, necklace, pearl enhancer and hair pin for nearly 50 years and
Category

Mid-20th Century Artisan Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Opal, White Gold

French Diamond Silver over 18k Antique Ring/Pendant/Pin Combo
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
of diamonds which resembles a flower. an old mine cut diamond of .75 carats is set in the middle and
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Cocktail Rings

Materials

Diamond, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

Masriera Plique a Jour Pendant Necklace 18K
By Masriera
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Diamond with a hanging pearl. This weighs in at 11.36 grams, without the chain. It is 1 1/2" wide x 1 3
Category

1990s Spanish Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Riker Bros, Floral Art Nouveau 14 Karat Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
exhibited and included in their collection of jewelry, platinum with diamonds, pearls and gemstones. Stock
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Bangles

Materials

14k Gold

1990s Hermes Sellier Gold Tone Brown Crocodile Leather Quartz Wrist Watch
By Hermès
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
movement: Swiss made Dial: white (mother-of-pearl), Arabic numerals, 12-hour dial, spear hands, gold plated
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold Plate, Stainless Steel

Vintage Maison Gripoix Clear and Muted Red/Orange Flower Earrings Circa 1980s
By Maison Gripoix
Located in New York, NY
Maison Gripoix Vintage Clear and Muted Red/Orange Flower Dangling Earrings set in gold tone. Always
Category

Vintage 1980s French Artist Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Gold Plate

Eszeha Germany 1920 Travel Pendant Desk Clock in Sterling Silver with Guilloche
By Eszeha
Located in Miami, FL
. They were adorned with diamonds and pearls in floral motifs inspired by Art Nouveau. In 1911, Karl
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Portrait of a Lady with Crimson Wrap Fur c.1675 Fine Dutch Old Master Painting
By Jacob Huysmans
Located in London, GB
by two huge gold and pearl brooches. A huge diamond, pearl, and gold brooch is on the bodice, and
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Lady Holding a Lemon with Landscape Beyond c.1640 Antique Painting
Located in London, GB
- diamond earrings, multiple huge black uncut diamond and gold brooches, and pearls in her necklace and hair
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Lady and Portrait of Gentleman, Velvet Silk Attire c.1700 French
By Nicolas de Largillière
Located in London, GB
shoulder with a pearl and large diamond brooch, again, deliberately folded to reveal its real gold
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antoine Beaudouin silver Art Nouveau pendant Modesty
Located in Amsterdam, NL
design are known. For instance, a lovely gold brooch with an enamelled face and diamonds instead of
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Drop Necklaces

Materials

Natural Pearl, Ruby, Sterling Silver

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Blue Yellow Clip On Earrings
By Saint Laurent
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
diamond brooches, also costume jewellery: Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, David Webb and etc
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Gold Plate

Portrait of Lady in Red Dress, Lace, Jewels c.1605, Fine Gilded Frame, French
Located in London, GB
, and pearls - as a coronet, earrings, several ropes of pearls, and a plethora of large gold and diamond
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

Pair (2) Portraits Gentleman Lady, William Rachel Helyar c.1656, Civil War
By Robert Walker
Located in London, GB
uncut diamonds, one in a pearl and gold brooch on the centre front of her bodice, and another in a gold
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

George Stockwell 1911 London Edwardian Enameled Guilloche Sterling Pocket Watch
Located in Miami, FL
white. Think diamonds, pearls and white metals like platinum and white gold. Diamonds often had an Old
Category

Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Pocket Watches

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Portrait of a Lady, Elizabeth Fane, Countess Westmoreland in Silver Dress, oil
By John Michael Wright
Located in London, GB
of pearls and a large diamond brooch. At first, the image seems like a straightforward one, but it in
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Cotton Canvas, Oil

Vintage White Gold Pearl and Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite brooch is crafted in 13k white gold and showcases a graceful cluster of luminous
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, White Gold

Diamond and Pearl Brooch
Located in New York, NY
baroque grey pearl, measuring 9.6*6.7*4.8mm. Enhanced with approx. 2.0-carat diamonds, this brooch weighs
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold Plate, Platinum

Vintage 14K Yellow Gold Fly Brooch with Pearl and Diamonds
Located in Hicksville, NY
Item Details: Metal Type: 14K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight: 7 grams Diamond
Category

20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Art Nouveau Gold Brooch with Diamonds and Natural Pearls
Located in Berlin, DE
Enchanting Art Nouveau gold brooch with diamonds and natural pearls. Including certificate of
Category

20th Century Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

White Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Victorian Floral Brooch with Pearls and Diamonds in Silver and Gold
Located in Lucerne, CH
natural pearls of mm in size and 33 rose cut diamonds totalling approximate 0.75 ct. Brooch system in
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver

Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Flower Brooch Clasp
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Beautifully made three dimensional 14k yellow gold flower brooch (with fitting so it can also be
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Assael Pearl and Diamond Gold Lotus Flower Brooch
By Assael
Located in Troy, MI
constructed in 18k white gold accented with white diamonds. 12.4 mm Natural Color Tahitian Pearl. Gem
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold

Gold Diamonds Pearl Jade Brooch
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Retro brooch in 14kt yellow and white gold composed of two leaves shaped jade with diamonds and
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold

Diamond and Pearl Brooch / Pearl Enhancer 14 Karat White Gold
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Lovely vintage diamond and pearl brooch / enhancer with delicate milgrain detailing. Metal: 14
Category

20th Century American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Gold, Enamel, Diamond and Pearl Heart Brooch
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
A fine Victorian heart-shaped, gold and silver brooch with very fine red Guilloche enamel work, ca
Category

Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Enamel

French 18 Karat Gold Brooch with Pearls Diamonds Rubies and Sapphires
Located in Braintree, GB
Antique French 18k gold brooch with freshwater pearls, diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires. Made in
Category

Early 20th Century French Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold

Baroque Pearl and Diamond Pin Brooch
Located in Webster, NY
This unique brooch features 6 baroque Tahitian Pearls, accenting the pearls are three Round
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold

Diamond, Sapphire, and Pearl 18k Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
French cut sapphires, complimented with round brilliant diamonds and pearls. Mounted in 18-karat
Category

1990s Unknown Art Deco Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Victorian Sapphire Pearl and Diamond Brooch
Located in London, GB
and rose cut diamonds. A duo of matching round pearls complete the ensemble before the piece is made
Category

Antique 19th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold

Pearl Diamond Silver Gold Brooch Pendant
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Retro brooch/pendant in 9kt yellow gold and silver composed of a central pearl surrounded by gold
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Estate Jade, Pearl and Diamond Brooch
Located in Derby, NY
orange Natural Type A Jadeite Jade with 4.35 cttw in diamonds set in 18Kt white gold. The natural pearl
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Jade, Pearl, 18k Gold

Diamond Ruby and Pearls 14 Karat Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Gorgeous 14 karat yellow gold oval brooch set with a diamond, ruby and pearls. This pretty brooch
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Oriental Pearl, Ruby, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Ruser Pearl Diamond Gold Bird Brooches
By William Ruser
Located in Miami Beach, FL
do not usually see. The are 14k yellow gold with pearl bodies and diamond eyes.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold

1940s 1.10 Carat Diamond and Pearl White Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 1940s 1.10 carat diamond and pearl, 18 karat white gold brooch; part of our
Category

Vintage 1940s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold

Retro Style Diamonds and Pearls Brooch 18k Yellow Gold
Located in BEVERLY HILLS, CA
Retro style diamonds and pearl brooch. 12 round brilliant diamonds, approximately 0.45ct, H/I color
Category

1990s Unknown Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

14K Yellow Gold Vintage Pearl and Diamond Brooch 8.7g
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
14k Yellow Gold vintage leaf style brooch. There is an 8.5mm white pearl with a pinkish tone in the
Category

Mid-20th Century Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Victorian Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Pin Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An antique Victorian 0.04 carat diamond and seed pearl, 14 karat yellow gold and base metal pin
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

Midcentury Diamond Pearl Gold Cameo Brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A beautifully hand fabricated brooch made in 14k yellow gold. It features 9 round cut diamonds
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

18 Karat White and Rose Gold Brooch with Diamonds, Pearls and Colored Sapphires
By Cellini
Located in New York, NY
white gold stem is set with round brilliant diamonds. A second stem of rose gold intertwines. The brooch
Category

1990s Unknown Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Ros...

Antique Victorian Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Clover Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique 0.26 carat diamond and natural pearl, 12 karat yellow gold and silver
Category

Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Pearl Diamond Gold Nesting Doves Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 carat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark. Featuring an openwork leafy design topped
Category

Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Natural Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold

Antique Pearl Sapphire Ruby and Diamond Gold Butterfly Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
impressive antique pearl, sapphire, ruby and diamond brooch has been crafted in 9k yellow gold with gold and
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold

Alishan 18K Gold Spider Brooch with Tahitian Akoya Pearls with Diamond Accent
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
variations -- some in platinum, and some with an attached gold and diamond "web." Ours is in 18 karat gold
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Black Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Pearl Sapphire Diamond Gold Brooch
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
Elegant pearl brooch in 14kt white gold embellished with diamonds and blue sapphies. diaonds
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold

Victorian Diamond Pearl Gold Starburst Brooch Pendant
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Victorian diamond pearl and yellow gold starburst brooch pendant circa 1890. SPECIFICATIONS
Category

Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold

Black and White Pearl Diamond Silver Gold Fly Brooch
Located in Marcianise, Marcianise (CE)
, ITEMS AT AUCTIONS AND ONGOING PROMOTIONS. Delightful fly shaped brooch in 14Kt gold and silver. The
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Retro Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Antique Diamond and Pearl Shamrock Brooch, 9k Gold and Silver
Located in NEWARK, GB
brooch with scrolling gold arches with silver mounts to highlight the stones. To the centre there is a
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver

Edwardian 1910 Diamond Pearl Platinum Gold Brooch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edwardian 1910 pearl and diamond brooch mounted in gold and platinum. Designed as a platinum topped
Category

Vintage 1910s Edwardian Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum

1910s Diamond and Pearl Yellow Gold Platinum Set Bar Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive antique 0.60 carat diamond and pearl, 15 karat yellow gold and platinum set bar
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum

Antique Brooch Diamond Pearl and Ruby
Located in Geneva, CH
Brooch cock with a pearl rose cut diamond and ruby on gold. Total 20.25 carats approximately
Category

Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Brooches

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Ruby

Tiffany Co. 1960 George Schuler Brooch in 14Kt Gold with Pearls and Diamond
Located in Miami, FL
fan shape in solid yellow gold of 14 karats with textured surfaces. The brooch is fitted at the
Category

Vintage 1960s American Modernist Brooches

Materials

Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a broad range of gold brooch with pearls and diamonds for sale on 1stDibs. All of the items for sale were constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, 18k Gold and Yellow Gold. Our selection of items includes 119 vintage examples as well as 29 contemporary versions. Our collection is diverse and broad-ranging, and pieces in stock date back to the 18th Century while others were produced as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of gold brooch with pearls and diamonds includes designs that are universally popular, but Contemporary and Victorian styles, specifically, are sought with frequency. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Cellini, Robert Guyon and David Webb produced popular versions that are worth a look. There are many round cut, brilliant cut and rose cut gold brooch with pearls and diamonds for sale. When shopping our range of gold brooch with pearls and diamonds, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men today than there are for women.

How Much are Gold Brooch With Pearls And Diamonds?

Prices for gold brooch with pearls and diamonds start at $232 and top out at $86,500 with these brooches, on average, selling for $4,065.

Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship

Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself. 

Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.

Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.

For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.

Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.

In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so. 

Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.

Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle. 

BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.

A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in

Since Van Cleef Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.

Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.

Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.

The Legacy of Diamond in Jewelry Design

Antique diamond rings, diamond tiaras and dazzling vintage diamond earrings are on the wish lists of every lover of fine jewelry. And diamonds and diamond jewelry are primarily associated with storybook engagements and red-carpet grand entrances — indeed, this ultra-cherished gemstone has a dramatic history on its hands.

From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. But what makes the diamond so special? Each stone — whether it’s rubies, sapphires or another stone — is unique and important in its own right. April babies might claim diamonds for themselves, but just about everyone wants this kind of sparkle in their lives!

There are several factors that set diamonds apart from other stones, and these points are important to our gem education.

Diamonds are minerals. They are made up of almost entirely of carbon (carbon comprises 99.95 percent; the remainder consists of various trace elements). Diamonds are the hardest gemstones, ranking number 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Even its name, diamond, is rooted in the Greek adamas, or unconquerable. The only object that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. Diamonds are formed deep within the earth at very high temperatures (1,652–2,372 degrees Fahrenheit at depths between 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface) and are carried up by volcanic activity. Diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality.

In the 1950s, the Gemological Institute of America developed the 4Cs grading system to classify diamonds: clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Not all diamonds are created equal (there are diamonds, and then there are diamonds). The value of the diamond depends on the clarity (flawless diamonds are very rare but a diamond's value decreases if there are many blemishes or inclusions), color (the less color the higher the grade), cut (how the diamond’s facets catch the light, certain cuts of diamonds show off the stone better than others) and carat weight (the bigger, the better).

When you start shopping for a diamond engagement ring, always prioritize the cut, which plays the largest role in the diamond's beauty (taking the time to clean your diamond ring at least every six months or so plays a role in maintaining said beauty). And on 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement ringsvintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings

Shop antique and vintage diamond rings, diamond necklaces and other extraordinary diamond jewelry on 1stDibs.  

Finding the Right Brooches for You

Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.

While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like GucciVersaceDior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step. 

Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.

At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.

Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.

Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.